The Finest KFC Money Can Buy [Chapter 2 - FINAL]

Katsuki woke up to the smell of bacon.

Burning bacon.

He sat up in a hurry, stunned to find himself not in his bed, but tucked under a still-warm kotatsu, a decorative cushion resting where his head just was. A quiet voice was muttering in the next room, and he leapt to his feet to investigate, his brain barely functioning enough to even figure out where he was.

“Morning Kacchan!” Izuku said brightly, when he saw Katsuki’s bewildered face peek around the corner. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you!”

“You’re burning it.”

“I know,” Izuku chuckled awkwardly, already fishing black strips of bacon from his frying pan with a pair of tongs. “I’m not very good at this.”

Katsuki shoved him out of the way without a word, grabbing a clean pan, and Izuku smiled softly at him as he immediately got to work.

“Sorry,” he said again. “I wanted to make you a nice Christmas breakfast, but cooking is harder than I thought.”

“Damn Deku,” Katsuki huffed. “Can you handle cracking eggs?”

“Yeah! Cracking is the easy part!”

“Then crack some eggs for me, I’ll do the cooking part.”

“On it!”

He hummed to himself as he worked, and Katsuki couldn’t bring himself to be annoyed about it. He was a little annoyed that Izuku only seemed to know two lines of a single Christmas song to hum over and over again like a broken record, but he seemed happy, and happy clients were always a good thing.

“I hope you don’t mind that I left you there last night,” Izuku said, watching as Katsuki tipped his first batch of perfectly-cooked bacon onto a pile of paper towels to drain. “I thought about trying to get you to the guest room, but I didn’t want to wake you.”

“S’fine,” Katsuki assured him. “Sorry I fell asleep so quickly.”

“No, don’t be! I’m glad you were comfortable and relaxed. Do you have any plans to rush home for today? I can call Kurumazaki to come get you if you need to leave in a hurry.”

“No, I’m good,” Katsuki shrugged, pouring Izuku’s eggs into the pan next. “And I can take the train anyway. I’ll get out of your hair soon, just let me put some clothes on and stuff.”

“No, don’t be silly!” Izuku insisted. “My home is your home. You haven’t even used the bath yet! I don’t have any plans today at all, so please take your time. Have breakfast with me, take a nice bath, read some books, we can even finish the movie that put you to sleep if you want.”

Katsuki eyed him silently, scrutinising his expression, but Izuku just smiled at him warmly, reaching a hand out to fix Katsuki’s smooshed blond spikes.

“I like your company,” he said quietly. “You know I do, that’s why I keep coming back.”

“It’s my job to make you like my company.”

“And you’re very good at your job,” Izuku chuckled. “You know why I called you the first time?”

“For that big corporate dinner you were dreading.”

“I had about six women ask me to be their date to it,” he explained, smiling awkwardly. “My committee said I should accept one of them, but I didn’t know how I was supposed to make that choice. They all could have benefited my business, but I couldn’t face the weeks of newspapers speculating on whether or not we were sleeping together. Not to mention rejecting the other five, it was so awkward. So I just kind of... blurted out that I already had a date. They all seemed satisfied with that.”

“And then you had to find one?” Katsuki snorted.

“Yeah, pretty much. I’d heard about people like you before, so I looked it up, and when I saw your picture I just knew you’d be... fascinating.”

“Because I’m hot,” Katsuki summarised, snorting again. “I get it.”

“No, not just that. You are, but it was everything else that drew me in. The little bio about you that was clearly written by someone else-”

“That shit is stupid,” Katsuki interjected. “People don’t need to know shit about me.”

“And the pictures,” Izuku continued, ignoring the interruption. “They were all so casual, like you’d just snapped a selfie at the gym or someone had taken a candid while you were hanging out at the beach one day. Everyone else was so posed, like they’d clearly taken a thousand photos and picked the best one. But you didn’t care about that, you were just you. And I wanted to get to know you.”

“I charge a thirty dollar fee to listen to confessions,” Katsuki warned him. “Double if you want me to respond nicely.”

“You know I’d pay it if you wanted me to,” Izuku chuckled. “I don’t know if that’s what I mean. Maybe I just want to hang out with you more. I’ve never really had feelings for anyone, so I wouldn’t know how to recognise them, really.”

Katsuki raised an eyebrow at him, scooping scrambled eggs out onto a plate, and Izuku just smiled nervously.

“I like buying you things,” he added, when Katsuki didn’t answer. “And seeing your surprised face when you open them.”

“Sounds like you’re looking for a Sugar Baby, not a friend or a date,” Katsuki chuckled faintly.

“Only if it’s you.”

Katsuki hesitated, half-expecting him to burst out laughing and tell him it was all a dumb joke, a stupid rich-guy game of ‘tease the poor kid’, but Izuku just stared straight into his eyes, so genuine that it was almost painful to look at.

“How are your coffee-making skills?” he asked finally.

“Excellent!” Izuku grinned, gesturing to the fancy machine on the counter behind them. “Would you like one?”

“Sounds like I’m gonna need one if we’re gonna have this talk.”

Izuku laughed, but he started the machine all the same, working like the most practiced barista in the city to produce two full mugs. Katsuki finished serving their breakfast and switched off the stove, carrying the pair of plates out to the kotatsu where he’d woken, and soon Izuku was beside him again, still wearing the bright red pyjamas that matched Katsuki’s exactly.

“So,” Izuku said softly. “Does this mean you’d consider it?”

“You’re a lot less sleazy than some of the dudes I hang out with,” Katsuki acknowledged, taking a bite of bacon to give himself time to think. “So maybe.”

“Would you... Let me be the only one?”

“The only date or the only Sugar Daddy?”

“Yes.”

Katsuki shrugged slightly, toying with his food, but Izuku waited patiently.

“I could close myself to new clients,” he offered. “But I don’t think I should turn down my other regulars any time soon.”

“I’d be okay with that,” Izuku agreed. “And I’ll pay your expenses in return, to make up for the loss of income.”

“As long as I’m still making rent, it’s fine.”

Izuku froze, and Katsuki raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to spit the words out.

“I kind of thought,” he mumbled, cheeks flushing pink. “That maybe if we’re gonna do this properly, you could move in here.”

“Haah?”

“You can have the guest room upstairs. Make it your room, I mean. If I have guests they can just use my mother’s room, it’s not a big deal. Unless you’d prefer her room? They’re the same size, and they both have their own bathroom and closet and everything, although the one upstairs doesn’t have a balcony. I just gave Mom that one so she doesn’t have to climb the stairs. But if you’d rather not be right next to my room, I understand completely! Or, you could have the master bedroom and I could move into Mom’s room, then I can just use the guest room when she visits. Or-”

“Deku,” Katsuki cut him off, rolling his eyes. “Upstairs is fine. I don’t care about being next to your room. Unless you snore incredibly loudly, or something.”

“I don’t! At least, not that I know of. I guess I wouldn’t know if I did, huh? Well, if I do, you can tell me and we’ll change things up!”

“Fine.”

“Do you want to bring your own furniture over?”

“God no. My shitty second-hand stuff? Like hell.”

“Okay,” Izuku chuckled. “You can test out everything that’s in there currently, and whatever doesn’t work for you, we’ll replace. We’ll definitely need new sheets and blankets, you’ll hate the colours in there and you deserve nice new things. And new curtains to match. Maybe a rug, the wooden floors are a little cold in winter, and I know you hate having cold feet. And some nice art for the walls.”

“Deku,” Katsuki sighed. “You don’t need to go overboard.”

“I just want to make it a nice home for you!”

“I have my own bedding I can bring. And I’m sure the curtains are fine.”

“Your bedding will be too small for that bed, Kacchan.”

Katsuki pulled a face, and Izuku smiled at him, leaning in to nudge him lightly.

“Let’s pick some out online,” he suggested. “We’ll get it delivered in the next few days. Curtains to match, too. I insist.”

“I don’t need-”

“I like buying you things,” Izuku reminded him. “Not out of pity or charity, I know you’re gonna say it. I just like spoiling you.”

“Fine,” he conceded, his face a little warm. “Bedding and curtains. That’s all, for now.”

“And a rug.”

“I don’t need a rug.”

“Gotta keep your little toesies warm,” Izuku grinned, fishing around with his foot to poke at Katsuki’s under the table. “Bedding, curtains, rug. Then I’ll stop for now.”

“Ugh. Fine.”

“Good boy.”

“Gross.”

“Get used to it,” Izuku teased, slinging an arm around Katsuki’s shoulders. “You’re gonna be hearing it a lot.”

“I take it back, you’re just as sleazy as that guy I cut off last year.”

“Ouch!”

Katsuki shot him a sharp-toothed smile, and Izuku smiled back, not at all offended despite his protest.

“I’m gonna pay to break your lease and all that,” he said softly. “Do you want to sell your furniture or put it in storage?”

“Sell.”

“Alright, I’ll see what I can arrange with your landlord about ending the lease and selling your stuff rather than move it here.”

“I can talk to him.”

“With all due respect, Kacchan, you’re not the right person to make business negotiations,” Izuku chuckled. “It takes sweet-talking and compromise, you’re not the most patient guy in the world.”

“Shut up.”

“Exactly. Let me handle it for you, okay? I want to.”

Katsuki grumbled something, and Izuku knew that was a win. Katsuki rarely said the words, but ceasing his protests was as good as caving.

“After breakfast,” Izuku said, changing topic smoothly before Katsuki could decide to debate it some more. “There’s a market I thought we could go to. We can look at all the pretty decorations, and drink hot chocolate, and hold hands like two big saps.”

“I need clean clothes first.”

“No problem! It’s near your apartment anyway, so we’ll drop by your place, pack up anything you want to bring back right away, then we can go to the market while Kurumazaki brings your stuff back here. I’ll call your landlord on Monday, but you can move in at your own pace!”

“And you’re sure about this?” Katsuki asked awkwardly. “Is this some spur of the moment decision that you’re gonna regret in a week?”

“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, Kacchan. Probably since the first time I called you that, honestly.”

“I still don’t know why I put up with it.” Katsuki snorted. “I mean, other than your wallet.”

“Good thing that isn’t going anywhere, then,” Izuku teased. “Because I’m not stopping, Kacchan.”

“Whatever, Deku.”

─────

“Look at these!”

Izuku grabbed him by the hand, dragging him over to a little stall, and Katsuki huffed quietly despite the amusement that swelled in his chest. The enthusiasm was kind of sweet, in a super dorky way, and Katsuki was apparently a bit of a sucker for the guy.

In all honesty, he’d always enjoyed Izuku’s company. He even felt bad accepting his money, sometimes. If Izuku had gone broke all of a sudden, he’d probably still have kept going to the dumb corporate parties with him.

He kind of hated himself for that thought.

“These stalls are so cute,” Izuku gushed, looking out at the line of stalls shaped like tiny wooden houses. “Do you think this is really what it looks like in Europe?”

“Wouldn’t know,” Katsuki shrugged. “I’ve never left Japan.”

“Never?” Izuku asked, eyes wide. “Not even... I don’t know, China? Korea?”

“Nope.”

“I’ll take you to Europe, then,” Izuku said firmly. “Next time I can leave work for long enough.”

“I wasn’t hinting.”

“I know!”

Fresh snow crunched under their feet as they walked, and Katsuki shivered when he felt some hit the back of his neck, pulling his hood up to keep it at bay. It was already nearing noon, after their lazy morning at Izuku’s place checking out bedroom furnishings, and a bit of packing at his own, but despite the sun being high in the sky, it was still freezing cold out. He’d had to bundle up in all his warmest clothes just to get out the door, amid teasing from Izuku about him being a little marshmallow man in all his layers, and he was already debating how long he had to wait before it was acceptable to ask to go indoors again.

“I have a friend who loves these little dolls,” Izuku told him. “I should get her a set, which do you think are the nicest?”

“I don’t know your friend.”

“No, but she has good taste, and so do you!”

Katsuki huffed again, but stepped forward to take a look, letting Izuku pull him in close as they inspected the table of goods – to steal his warmth, obviously.

“I like the white one,” he said finally. “It looks classy.”

“Yeah?” Izuku hummed, leaning over to take a closer look. “It’s very pretty, the painting is so good and detailed.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay! White one it is!”

He kept Katsuki tight to his side as he dug his wallet out with the other hand, fishing out a few notes to hand over. The lady handed him the doll in a little paper bag in exchange, and Izuku smiled warmly as he thanked her, carefully tucking it into the satchel that hung at his side.

“I need to get you a Christmas present, too,” Izuku mused, as they headed toward the next stall. “I bet we can find something nice here.”

“I don’t need a present. You just bought me a bunch of stuff this morning.”

“But that was stuff you needed,”Izuku pouted. “Now I want to get you something just because you’ll like it!”

“Fine,” Katsuki caved. “But I’m getting you something too.”

“Okay! You can pick me out something and-”

“With my money,” Katsuki cut him off, before he could finish. “It’s not a gift if you pay for it yourself.”

“You don’t have to do that, Kacchan!”

“Too bad, deal with it.”

“But-”

“Careful or I’m gonna buy you two presents just to spite you.”

“Kacchan!” he objected. “Don’t make presents into a competition!”

“Then quit your whining and let me buy you one.”

“Fine,” Izuku huffed. “Just don’t go overboard, okay?”

“I wouldn’t.”

“Okay, one present each, then!”

“Deal.”

He linked his arm through Katsuki’s, leading him to the next stall, and Katsuki silently lamented the loss of his hug. He’d finally started to get warm, with Izuku pressed against him, and the loss of his body heat made Katsuki shiver.

“Cold?” Izuku asked knowingly. “You want to take a break?”

“Kinda,” he admitted, grimacing. “Indoors?”

“There’s a little break room down there,” Izuku told him, nodding toward a building at the end of the row. “Do you wanna go now?”

“We can finish this row,” Katsuki mumbled. “I’ll be okay.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay! Let me know if you change your mind.”

“I will.”

Despite Katsuki’s assurance, Izuku moved a little quicker through the stalls as they continued, spending less time staring and contemplating every little item that was up for sale. One shelf in particular caught his eye, one that Izuku somehow seemed to miss entirely, distracted by cute little decorative pine trees at the front that he bought six of without a second thought, and Katsuki knew immediately that he’d be sneaking back there when he had a chance.

“Do you want some mulled wine?” Izuku asked, when they neared the end of the line of stalls. “I’ve never tried it before, but it looks good!”

“Sure,” Katsuki agreed, following him into a short line of people waiting their turn. “I haven’t had it either.”

“Okay! And something to eat? Are you hungry yet?”

“A little.”

“It looks like they have hot pork and turkey sandwiches up here, or sausages, or I think that’s clam chowder?”

“Turkey sounds good.”

“Okay! Turkey sandwich and mulled wine. Do you wanna go find a seat inside while I wait in line?”

“Okay,” Katsuki agreed, despite feeling a little awkward about it – Izuku was too nice to him, too obsessed with making sure he was safe and warm and comfortable. “Don’t be too long.”

“I won’t! The line is moving quickly!”

“Okay.”

He hesitated, then rose to his tiptoes briefly, planting a tiny kiss on Izuku’s cheek and running away before Izuku could see him blushing.

The warmth hit him as soon as he opened the sliding door to the building, and he sighed contentedly as he locked himself inside, finding a corner with two vacant seats at a wooden bar to reserve for himself and Izuku. It was relatively empty, only two other people hanging out, still early in the day for most of the market’s visitors – the fairy lights everywhere tended to bring people in after dark, instead of for lunch – which gave Katsuki plenty of room to sit down and seat, without being jammed in a room full of damp tourists.

The snow was beginning to fall quicker beyond the windows, and Katsuki found himself twitchy, shifting in his seat impatiently as he waited for Izuku to join him. He hoped it wasn’t getting too cold and miserable out there, while he waited for their lunch.

When he saw the familiar figure heading his way, he quickly jumped up to open the door, letting Izuku slip his way through with his hands full of wine and sandwiches. He shut it again firmly behind him, then ushered Izuku over to their end of the bar counter, watching as he set down two paper mugs and plates.

“It’s getting snowy out there!” Izuku marvelled, tugging Katsuki lightly until he sat down. “This should warm you up!”

Katsuki took a sip obediently, pausing for a second as he swallowed.

“Tastes weird,” he said after a moment. “Not bad weird, but weird.”

“Yeah?” Izuku asked, sitting down beside him and reaching for the other cup. “It smells really nice.”

“It does. Spicy.”

“Uh oh, is it spicy?” Izuku asked warily, sniffing at it. “I don’t have the same heat tolerance as you.”

“Spicy like it has spices in it,” Katsuki snorted. “It’s not hot.”

“It’s cold?”

“Shut up, you know what I mean.”

“Couldn’t resist,” Izuku grinned, ruffling Katsuki’s hair. “You don’t have to finish it if it’s gross.”

“It’s not gross,” Katsuki assured him, taking another sip. “Just weird.”

“Okay!”

Izuku took a sip of his own, staring at it as he swallowed, then looking up to Katsuki again.

“You’re right,” he laughed. “Not awful, but weird.”

“Told you so.”

“I might stick with hot chocolate next time.”

“Hot chocolate won’t get you drunk,” Katsuki snorted, taking another long sip. “Less fun.”

“We don’t need to get drunk!”

“No but it’s fun.”

“I’m fun without alcohol,” Izuku grinned.

“Sure,” Katsuki snorted. “Keep telling yourself that.”

“Meanie.”

Izuku’s phone buzzed as they ate, and he dragged it out to look, eyes widening when the screen lit up with a little selfie of himself and a woman Katsuki suspected had to be his mother.

“Do you mind?” Izuku asked, glancing over at Katsuki. “Just while we eat and wait for the snow to die down?”

“Go for it,” Katsuki shrugged. “Whatever.”

Izuku answered the call, waiting a moment for it to load, a wrinkled but friendly face waiting on the other end.

“Hi Mom,” he said, smiling at the screen. “How are you?”

“Hi sweetie! Merry Christmas!”

“Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too!”

“I’m doing fine, what about you? I hope you’re not working yourself to death again.”

“No, I’m on break for a few days,” Izuku laughed. “I’m doing a little paperwork from home, and phone calls as always, but I’m not back in the office until the new year! I’ll be home to visit you on the thirty-first, I promise!”

“I’m looking forward to it!”

He tilted the screen a little to get Katsuki in frame, perfectly timed to catch a piece of turkey sticking out the corner of his mouth, and Katsuki quickly raised a hand to cover it, glaring at Izuku silently.

“This is Kacchan,” Izuku said. “We’re spending Christmas together!”

“Bakugou Katsuki,” Katsuki corrected him. “Nice to meet you, Ma’am.”

“It’s nice to meet you too! I’m Inko, Izuku’s mother! Aren’t you a handsome one, it’s no wonder Izuku talks about you so much!”

Katsuki raised an eyebrow at him, watching his cheeks flush bright pink – served him right for catching his messy eating habits on camera.

“Don’t tell him that, Mom!” Izuku whined, sounding oddly like an embarrassed teenager. “You’ll scare him away!”

“He’s told me all about you,” Inko continued, ignoring his protests. “He says you go on pity dates with him, the silly boy. He doesn’t realise what a catch he is!”

Katsuki shot him another sideways look, watching him groan, and waited patiently for Izuku to defend himself, or at least explain himself, before Katsuki said something stupid and upset his mother.

“Don’t be silly, Mom,” he said finally. “Look at him, he could date anyone! But here he is, letting an old man take him out on Christmas!”

“Don’t sell yourself so short, Izuku! You’re sweet and charming! Not to mention incredibly intelligent, I always knew you would be, the way you always had your nose in a book, and how you insisted on taking apart every remote control and toaster in our house – at least you unplugged them first I suppose. Plus you’re still as cute as a button!”

“As a button,” Katsuki echoed, amused when Izuku whined again.

“He always gets so flustered,” Inko chuckled. “So modest, to boot!”

“So modest,” Katsuki agreed, smirking. “And so selfless, don’t you think?”

“Incredibly! Our Izuku is always out volunteering on holidays, or donating to all sorts of charities! You know, I bet he hasn’t told you, but A-M-T-E-C is one of the top-earning companies in the country now. They estimate that everyone in the country owns something made by my baby’s two hands! Especially with this latest invention he’s bought the patents for, the nightly news says his stock value is shooting to the moon! But this sweet boy doesn’t take a cent of it until all his employees are paid handsomely, and all their business expenses are paid, and even then he only takes the same salary his executive team takes, everything else goes to charity or back into the company! He could be spending his days on a luxury yacht in the middle of the Caribbean like those American billionaires, but here he is, gluing wires together just like he did on day one!”

“A-M-T...? Wait, AMTEC?” Katsuki asked quietly, his expression changing rapidly. “You own AMTEC?”

“She likes to spell out her acronyms,” Izuku said weakly.

“That is not the point.”

“Later,” Izuku promised, forcing a tiny smile. “Mom, we don’t need to talk about my stock portfolio on Christmas. What are you up to today?”

“Oh nothing special,” she brushed it off. “I just wanted to check in with my baby, but you seem to be doing fine! Go have some fun, you two! Take some cute photos for me to show off at my book club!”

“We will, Mrs Midoriya,” Katsuki promised, still eyeing Izuku warily. “It was nice to meet you.”

“You too, Katsuki! Bye, sweetie!”

“Bye Mom,” Izuku sighed, still staring at the screen long after Inko hung up, as if Katsuki might not notice that the call had disconnected.

“AMTEC,” Katsuki repeated. “You literally own the biggest tech company in Japan, one of the biggest in the world, and you didn’t think to tell me that?”

“Because you’d treat me weirdly if I told you!” Izuku pouted. “I like you, I don’t want to scare you off.”

“Scare me off? Fuck that! I would have charged you so much more money if I knew you owned AMTEC!”

“What?” Izuku asked, blinking at him. “That’s what you care about?”

“Obviously! No wonder you act like it’s no big deal to buy me shit. I want a fucking pony, Deku.”

“A pony,” Izuku repeated, stunned. “You want... Why do you want a pony?”

“Every rich kid has a pony.”

“Do you... Like ponies?”

“What? How should I know?”

“Okay, no ponies,” Izuku sighed, dropping his head into his hands. “So you’re not gonna get all weird about it?”

“Why would I be weird about it?”

“Because- You know what, forget it. This is fine. I should’ve known.”

Katsuki took the last bite of his sandwich, turning to lean back awkwardly against Izuku’s shoulder, savouring the warmth that seeped out through his jacket.

“No ponies,” Izuku said again, peeking up from his hands to see Katsuki slumped back against him. “But I should get you a better winter jacket, you’ve been shivering all day.”

“One of the fancy goose down ones?”

“Yeah,” Izuku agreed, smiling. “And some cozy sweaters to wear underneath.”

“Sounds good.”

“So, you don’t care about me spending money on you now?”

“Knowing it’s a drop in a million-dollar bucket? Nah, I’m good.”

“I should have told you months ago.”

“Damn right you should’ve.”

“For the record, though, I don’t have millions of dollars in my bank account, and I’m certainly not a billionaire. My mother vastly overestimates things.”

“Plus you give it all away.”

“A lot of it, yeah.”

“So if you spend all your money buying me ponies, you can just donate less to charity next year.”

“Sure,” Izuku snorted. “If I go broke buying you ponies, I’ll give less away.”

“Cool. Sorted.”

“You’re so damn cute.”

Katsuki tilted his head back, staring at Izuku with a confused look on his face, and Izuku just smiled as he leaned down to kiss Katsuki’s hair.

“Ready to go find some more stuff to buy?” Izuku asked.

“Sure, but I want hot chocolate next time we pass a stall.”

“Deal.”

─────

Katsuki leaned back on the sofa, feet propped up on a squishy footstool, watching with amusement as Izuku made phone call after phone call, becoming more and more dejected with each one.

“Hello!” he said again, trying his best to sound friendly, and not worn down by rejections. “I know it’s late notice, but I’m trying to find some fried chicken for dinner tonight, and- No, I understand that, but- yes, I know, I just- I was hoping- Okay, thank you for your time.”

“Amateur,” Katsuki teased, hauling himself back to his feet and heading over to join him at the table. “Let me try.”

“Please don’t yell at anyone, Kacchan.”

“I would never.”

He looked up a number, hitting the call button, and waited as it rang once, twice, and third time, and-

“Hello and welcome to KFC, how can I direct your call?”

“I have Midoriya Izuku, CEO of AMTEC, on the line.”

“Oh! Um, one moment Sir!”

He smirked as the ringing began again, his call being redirected, and he handed the phone over with a smug look on his face, Izuku’s own expression a mix of fondness and exhaustion.

“H-Hello?” Izuku stuttered, when the call connected. “Y-Yes, this is me. Him. He. Uh, I’m Midoriya Izuku. I was just um, hoping to get some chicken for dinner tonight, and I realise it’s short notice, but-”

“Tell them you’ll pay extra,” Katsuki suggested.

“Shhh,” Izuku hissed. “No, sorry Sir, that was just- Anyway, um, I know this is the busiest time of year for your stores, I just wondered if... Really? You would? Wow! That would be amazing!”

Katsuki grinned triumphantly, and Izuku shook his head fondly, reaching out to pull Katsuki’s hair.

“Yes, I’ll send my uh, my assistant by, to pick it up! Thank you so much!”

As he hung up the phone, Katsuki stood a little taller, preening under the soft smile Izuku gave him.

“I hate throwing my name around like that,” Izuku chuckled. “You’re so lucky you’re worth the trouble.”

“Damn right I am.”

“But,” Izuku continued. “I gave Kurumazaki the rest of the day off, which means I’m gonna drive us over, and you’re going to pretend to by my assistant since you acted it on the phone anyway.”

“Fine by me. Do you have a license?”

“Of course I have a license!” Izuku huffed. “Kurumazaki only drives me around so I can make phone calls and stuff at the same time, not because I can’t do it. I earn more money in that time than I spend on having a chauffeur!”

“Oh so now you’re gonna brag about your fortune, I see how it is.”

“Shut up,” Izuku laughed, shoving him lightly. “Thankfully the main rush of orders was for last night, so they agreed to squeeze us in, even though they’re still busy. We’re picking it up at six, so it’ll be hot and fresh for dinner.”

“Perfect.”

“I should have bought a Christmas cake, too,” he lamented. “If I’d known this was how my Christmas would turn out, I would have been more prepared!”

“I can make one.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah, easy,” he shrugged. “Just need ingredients for it. You got flour and shit?”

“I think I’ve got flour, not sure about the shit.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, not dignifying it with an answer, and Izuku grinned cheekily.

“I can order groceries,” he continued, digging his phone from his pocket. “Just tell me what I need!”

“Give it here,” Katsuki instructed, making grabby motions with his hand. “I want the good stuff.”

“Order anything else you want, too. I’m not sure what you usually eat.”

“I’m not picky,” Katsuki shrugged, already scrolling through the list of options. “Whatever your personal chef makes is fine.”

“I don’t have a-”

“Kidding,” Katsuki cut him off, rolling his eyes again. “I know you live on cafes and fancy restaurants.”

“I use the konbini a lot too!”

“Ugh. You’re so lucky you have me, now.”

“I know!” Izuku beamed. “Super lucky!”

“Nerd.”

“You love it,” Izuku teased. “Make sure you get strawberries to go on top, I love strawberries.”

“Because you are one,” Katsuki said quietly, refusing to elaborate even when Izuku whined at him about it.

When he was satisfied everything was on the list, he hit confirm, finding Izuku’s credit card details already saved to pay for it all – Katsuki was gonna have to memorise that number. He set the phone aside, out of reach when Izuku started itching to make business calls, and in less than an hour the delivery person was already knocking on the door.

Izuku brought them in while Katsuki took his belongings upstairs to get them out of the way, laying everything out neatly on one of the counter-tops where Katsuki would be able to see it. There were three packets of thick, juicy strawberries among it, and it took everything in his power to resist the urge to eat one really quickly and tell Katsuki only two had shown up.

“I’m taking this,” Katsuki said, as he stepped into the kitchen. “You can’t stop me.”

Izuku looked up to see Katsuki huddled inside one of his own cozy hoodies, one that he knew had been in his wardrobe only a few minutes prior. He probably should have been concerned about Katsuki clearly sneaking into his room to steal his clothes, or at least surprised by it, but instead he was just taken in by how cute he looked in it, all comfy and warm in a hoodie two sizes too big for him, the sleeves hanging down to his fingers.

“I’m gonna hug you now,” he blurted out, watching Katsuki’s eyes widen. “Just... put up with it.”

Sure enough, he wrapped his arms around Katsuki’s comfy frame, pulling him tight to his chest. Katsuki didn’t object, just stood awkwardly still as Izuku held him, trying to ignore the scratchy stubble where his cheek pressed against Izuku’s.

“Take it,” Izuku answered finally. “Keep it. It looks much better on you.”

“My stuff was damp from the snow,” he grumbled. “I only own a couple, and I was wearing both.”

“I don’t need reasons, just keep it.”

“Fine.”

He finally released Katsuki from his confines, enjoying the pink tint in his cheeks, and Katsuki turned away quickly to look over his ingredients, making sure everything was present and accounted for.

“Alright, I’m gonna make cake,” he said next. “Are you gonna... watch? Or just leave me to it?”

“I’m gonna help!”

“We both know you can’t cook.”

“I can crack eggs! And, uh... Stir?”

“Fine,” Katsuki snorted. “I’m gonna measure stuff out, you can find a home for things in the pantry when I’m done with them.”

“Deal!”

He watched Katsuki measure out precise amounts of each ingredient, and as promised, he carefully stored all the leftover bits in the appropriate places for them. He helped pull out the stand mixer he’d never even touched since moving in – though he was pretty sure his mother had used it once – and as Katsuki tipped things in, he took away the used dishes and utensils to load into the dishwasher – which did get a lot of use.

When the cake made it into the oven, Katsuki started on whipping cream instead, and Izuku began carefully chopping strawberries to go with it. Every so often, when he came across a smaller one that didn’t quite match the rest, he dunked it carefully in the bowl of cream and poked it at Katsuki’s mouth, grinning when his lips closed around it.

“Tasty?” he prompted.

“Very sweet,” Katsuki said approvingly. “You can try one, I got plenty.”

“Oh good, I wasn’t sure how I was gonna resist.”

He started to reach for one, but Katsuki swatted his hand away, picking out a big, dark red one, heavy with juice. He coated it carefully in cream, then offered it out with his face almost as red as the berry, refusing to meet Izuku’s eyes.

“Yummy,” Izuku said, leaning in to take a bite. “Thanks, Kacchan!”

“Whatever,” Katsuki huffed. “I know you like this sappy shit.”

“I do!”

“Least I can do.”

“For what?”

“The dozen ponies you’re gonna buy me.”

Izuku laughed brightly, and Katsuki finally cracked a smile again, shoving the last of the berry into Izuku’s mouth to stifle him.

“So while the cakes cool,” Izuku began slowly. “We should probably get you warmed up, you still look cold even with the heating on and your new hoodie.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Want to take a bath with me?” he suggested. “I know it’s a little weird, it’s not like I have a whole onsen, but-”

“Yes,” Katsuki cut him off. “I want to take a bath with you.”

“Really? Great! Okay! I’ll go start it filling, do you want to grab a book? Or do you just want a short one to warm up a bit? We can just talk, but if you’d rather read, that’s cool!”

“Either way,” Katsuki shrugged. “I’ll bring one, we can see how it goes.”

“Great! Okay! Give me two minutes!”

He disappeared up the stairs, and Katsuki shook his head fondly at his back, heading upstairs to find the little pile of books that Izuku had picked out for him the day prior. They’d brought over a few bags of his clothes and things, just the stuff he thought was most important to have with him, and it all sat in a pile atop his new bed still, not yet found a home in his new bedroom.

It still felt weird to think of it as his bedroom, in all honesty. Maybe that would change after a few nights in it, or at least a few weeks, after he’d moved in more of his own things and spent some more time there.

Izuku had actually been pretty adorable as they looked at furnishings for him, giddily scrolling through pictures and pointing out the ones he “thought suited Kacchan the best.” He’d actually been pretty on point about it, much to Katsuki’s surprise, and they’d both thought his eventual pick was the best one – a simple patchwork pattern in shades of black and grey that Katsuki had loved from the moment he saw it. A rug and curtains in the same shade of grey as much of the duvet cover had excited Izuku beyond belief, along with some big, fluffy, decorative cushions he had insisted that Katsuki needed because they would be perfect to lean on if he wanted to read in bed, and now there was a myriad of packages in the mail, on their way to make over Katsuki’s new room.

“All sorted?” Izuku asked, when Katsuki joined him with a book in hand.

“I want bubbles.”

“One step ahead of you,” Izuku laughed, waving a little green bottle at him. “Make sure it’s a good temperature for me!”

“Hold my book.”

He handed it over, and Izuku took it obediently, smiling again when he saw the cover.

“I loved this one,” he said softly. “The protagonist is very relatable.”

“I’ll let you know what I think when I get into it,” Katsuki mumbled. “Hey, do you want anything to go with the chicken tonight? Should I have ordered something or do you have some form of edible food in the house other than cake?”

“The nice manager said he’d put some sides in our order too!”

“Okay, good.”

Soon the tub was full, loaded with frothy bubbles, and they were both slipping into the deep, steaming-hot water.

“God that’s good,” Katsuki sighed contentedly, sinking into the bubbles. “Fuck.”

“It’s such a good tub,” Izuku agreed, sitting down on the little step that ringed the inside, the water still reaching his shoulders even so. “I thought it was excessive when I first saw it, with the platform and the stairs and all the stone. First time I used it, I immediately understood.”

“The snow makes it pretty magical.”

“Did you, Mister Bakugou Katsuki, just call it magical?”

“Shut the hell up.”

“No, no, I’m gonna savour this forever,” Izuku laughed, splashing bubbles at him lightly. “You’re not wrong, but hearing you say it is amazing.”

“Forget I said anything.”

“Never.”

He shifted over to Katsuki’s side of the bath, sitting down beside him, and Katsuki folded his arms over the edge of the tub, resting his chin on top. The rest of his body sprawled out below the water, barely hidden by the bubbles, and Izuku wasn’t sure he’d ever seen him so relaxed.

“Comfy?” Izuku asked with a little smile. “You look it.”

“Mm-hm,” Katsuki sighed contentedly. “I live here now.”

“Yeah, I’m happy to have you!”

“I meant in the bath.”

“Oh,” Izuku laughed. “You’re just gonna spend forever in the tub?”

“Mm-hm. You’ll have to bring me more books occasionally.”

“But how are you gonna cook me things?”

“Fuck, you’re right.”

“I was kidding,” Izuku assured him, running a damp hand through blond spikes. “You don’t have to cook for me.”

“I know,” Katsuki shrugged, closing his eyes and leaning into the touch a little. “But I want to, at least sometimes. I like cooking.”

“I’d like that.”

They fell silent for a minute, though Izuku continued stroking Katsuki’s hair lightly, since he was practically purring over it, and Izuku’s brain whirred away inside his head.

“Do you... have some kind of ambition, or dream, for the future?” he asked, grimacing at how awkward it came out. “A job you want to do? Something you want to achieve?”

“Not really.”

“Nothing at all?”

“Nope.”

“That surprises me,” Izuku admitted. “You’re so... Driven. Determined. Focused. I guess I just always thought you had some goal in mind that you were trying to achieve one day.”

“Everyone else had one, I never had a clue.”

“Yeah?”

“Mm,” Katsuki hummed quietly, opening his eyes just to glare at Izuku for stopping his caresses. “I figured I may as well milk my appearance for as long as I can while I’m still young, make the most of being hot before I get too old to capitalise on it.”

“You ever consider modelling or something?”

“Sort of, but cameras feel awkward, I can’t fake that shit. In-person seemed a lot easier. And pays better, honestly.”

“But you don’t have any plans for when you stop relying on your cute face?”

“It’s not the face people care about,” Katsuki snorted. “No, not so far.”

“That really amazes me.”

Katsuki shrugged, and for a moment they fell silent again, Izuku obediently continuing his affections while Katsuki relaxed again.

“The idea of having a job sounds like torture,” he mumbled. “Same thing, day-in and day-out. Getting up every morning to go to the same place, five days a week, for the rest of my life. It sounds like literal hell.”

“I can see that,” Izuku acknowledged. “You’d get bored at an office job, for sure.”

“I’d have to do something where I can move,” Katsuki agreed, “but no matter how much I like something, or tolerate something at least, the idea of doing it every day...”

“Yeah.”

As much as he’d never considered it, that fitted Katsuki’s personality too. He was driven, and determined, but he was also a ball of energy, who liked to speak his mind, and got bored easily. Izuku couldn’t picture him in any job that came to mind, at least not for more than ten minutes.

“Is there anything you want to try?” Izuku asked instead. “A hobby, or some course you want to take, a degree you want to get? Now’s your chance, if there’s anything you’ve ever wanted to do. I’m more than happy to pay for it, to buy you equipment or pay your fees and stuff, or even to help you find a job to try, if that’s what you want.”

“Yeah?”

“Anything,” Izuku reiterated. “And it doesn’t have to be right now. If you think of anything, just let me know and we’ll make it happen.”

“Okay.”

As much as his words didn’t convey it, Katsuki felt a little excited by the prospect. He’d never really gotten into anything beyond the standard high school classes that got him a diploma. Maybe there would be something he found himself excited enough about to spend every day doing it, and it was just out there somewhere, waiting for him to find it. Or maybe he could do multiple things, have a different job every day of the week. Or work from home, like Izuku often did – work on his own time, when he felt like it. His world was opening up to what felt like a world of opportunity, and at least in that moment, he couldn’t wait to explore it.

“Thanks,” he added, after a moment. “I’ll let you know.”

“Okay.” Izuku smiled softly. “Sounds good.”

By the time they got out of the bath, Izuku’s toes were all shrivelled up and gross – he suspected he understood how raisins felt, now. He sent Katsuki off to his room to find some clothes, though he suspected the oversized hoodie would remain, and headed downstairs once he’d grabbed some of his own.

Thankfully, the cake was cool enough to work with, and Izuku leaned against the counter to watch as Katsuki painstakingly pieced it together with thick layers of cream and strawberry in between. It was already beautiful before he even iced it, but of course Katsuki covered it in a thin layer of white frosting too, shoving a bag of marshmallows along the bench at Izuku.

“Melt these for me,” he instructed. “Microwave is fine, but do it slowly, on a low heat.”

“Okay! You can count on me!”

“I’d sure as hell hope so, it’s a microwave.”

Even so, he kept a watchful eye on Izuku as he melted and stirred, then melted some more. Thankfully, when he returned he had a jug full of perfectly melted marshmallows, not even a hint of burn on any of them.

“Good job,” he said awkwardly. “Can you mix in a drop of green food colouring? Use one of the rubber spatulas to fold it in gently.”

“Got it! I’m a good stirrer!”

“Fold,” Katsuki repeatedly firmly. “Not stir.”

“I’m an expect folder too! I hope.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, but sure enough Izuku managed to turn the marshmallows sufficiently green, and even loaded them into a piping bag decently when asked.

“Wow!” Izuku gushed, leaning in to watch as Katsuki piped little marshmallow trees on top of the cake. “It’s so pretty! You’re so good at this!”

“Don’t breathe on them too hard, they’ll fall.”

“Oop!”

He leaned back again, watching from a safe distance, and Katsuki cracked a little smile. The nerd was a mess of nerves sometimes, and for some reason it was stupidly endearing.

When the trees were done, he sprinkled icing sugar over them to make them nice and snowy, setting Izuku to work again as he finished off – this time, unwrapping foil-covered Santas for Katsuki to stick in place with little dabs of more marshmallow.

“There,” he said, when he was satisfied with his work. “Our Christmas cake, ta-da.”

“It’s beautiful, Kacchan! You’re amazing!”

“It’s no big deal.”

“It’s a huge deal. Let me take photos before you move it, just in case!”

“Go for it. Then it needs to go in the fridge for a bit, just to set fully.”

“Okay!”

He hunted down his phone, apparently not hidden well enough – though he’d thankfully seemed distracted enough by their shared antics to not think about work anyway – and snapped a dozen photos from every single angle, just to make sure he wouldn’t accidentally miss a spot. It took him a solid five minutes to finish, and Katsuki breathed a sigh of relief when the phone was set down again – much longer and he would have had to start worrying about the structural integrity of whipped cream in a heated room.

With some time still left before they would have to venture out on their chicken-retrieving adventure, they settled back in the cozy little living room, tucked under the kotatsu where they’d spent the night prior. Katsuki had a feeling they’d be spending a lot of nights there, in the future, and he was kinda of excited by the prospect.

“Do you want to open your gift now?” Izuku suggested, reaching for his satchel to find it. “It’s only small, no ponies yet, but I thought you would like it.”

“Yeah? I wanna see, gimme.”

He handed over a little paper bag, and Katsuki carefully opened it up to look, smiling when he found a little wreath of fake twigs and leaves, though at first glance it actually looked like real plants, much to his surprise. Bright red berries were woven into it too – the same shade as his eyes, he knew – and right in the middle it housed a matching candle, painted with gold patterns.

“It’s great,” he said, sincerely. “You’re gonna laugh at me if I say it’s pretty.”

“Only a little.”

“Well, it is,” he mumbled. “I can have a candlelit bath sometimes.”

“Yeah! It’s meant to smell like cinnamon, which I thought was a nice combination of Christmas-y and cookie-y, so pretty much a perfect match.”

“I love cinnamon.”

“Yeah?”

“Mm-hm, I put it in everything.”

“I hope it smells super nice for you then.”

“It will. Thank you, it’s a perfect gift.”

“I’m glad you like it!”

“I’ll get yours, too. One sec.”

He crawled out from under the blanket, jogging up the stairs to retrieve it from his new bedroom, and Izuku was beaming at him already when he returned, waiting eagerly to see.

“Here,” he said simply, sliding it across the table. “I hope you like it.”

Izuku untangled it from the paper wrapping carefully, his eyes lighting up when he found the little glass bulb inside, three cute little penguins in Santa hats playing together within its glass confines. Three more ringed the outside, including a particularly adorable one in a scarf taking a nap, and Izuku cooed over each and every one of them as he examined it.

“They’re gorgeous!” he fawned, shaking it up to watch the snow swirl within. “How did I miss these?! I’m so glad you were there to see it!”

“I felt like you’d like the penguins,” Katsuki mumbled, hit by a strange shyness he rarely felt. “I’m glad you like it, or whatever.”

“Thank you, Kacchan. It’s my favourite thing I’ve ever owned.”

Katsuki’s mind went blank as warm lips met his own, realising all too late that he was the one leaning in, he was the one who had rolled onto his knees to reach, he was the one with a hand on the back of Izuku’s neck, holding him close like he might never let go ever again.

“Shit,” he hissed, as he pulled back quickly. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was-”

“Kacchan,” Izuku cut him off. “I’ve loved you since the first time you made fun of my boss at that stupid party I dragged you to. If you want to kiss me, then by all means, please just fucking kiss me.”

“You’re hot when you swear for me,” Katsuki teased, shuffling a little closer all the same. “It’s okay? You’re not gonna regret asking me to move in?”

“Fuck no.”

“Sexy.”

He brought their lips together again, and this time he felt the eagerness that Izuku returned his touch with, a warm hand sliding around to rest on the small of his back, steadying him, keeping him close.

“Maybe you don’t need a new bedroom after all,” Izuku smirked, when they parted by mere millimetres. “You could just share mine, instead.”

“Fuck that,” Katsuki grinned. “My stuff is far cooler than your nerd shit.”

“Good point, as usual,” Izuku chuckled. “Well, if you ever get cold during the night, you know where to find me.”

“Of course I do,” Katsuki smirked right back. “You’ll be on the mattress beside me, keeping me warm.”

Izuku’s heart fluttered, and he dragged Katsuki back in for another long kiss, praying that he wouldn’t wake up alone and cold in his bed, lamenting that it was all just a beautiful, perfect dream.

“I love you,” Izuku said again. “You don’t have to say it back, but God, I need you to know how much I love you.”

“I do,” Katsuki assured him. “Love you too. I was stupid to take so long to figure it out.”

“But we’re here now, that’s all that matters.”

“You sap.”

When Izuku laughed, Katsuki gently extracted himself from his hold, instead parking himself in Izuku’s lap to snuggle into him comfortably. He loved the warmth Izuku radiated, and deep down, he extra-loved the embrace that quickly wrapped him up again, planting kisses on his hair.

“Kacchan,” Izuku murmured into his hair.

“Yeah?” Katsuki hummed, leaning back into Izuku’s chest and peeking up at him. “Hi.”

“I’m gonna buy you the best damn pony in the world.”